Proof of Contents of Lost Public Records

When, in any action, it is desired to prove the contents of any public record or document lost or destroyed by conflagration or other public calamity and, after such proof of such loss or destruction, there is offered in proof of such contents:

(a)Any abstract of title made and issued and certified as correct prior to such loss or destruction, and purporting to have been prepared and made in the ordinary course of business by any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of preparing and making abstracts of title prior to such loss or destruction; or

(b)Any abstract of title or any instrument affecting title, made, issued and certified as correct by any person, firm or corporation engaged in the business of insuring titles to real estate, whether the same was made, issued or certified before or after such loss or destruction, and whether the same was made from the original records COL120106 DIV. 2 PRINCIPLES OF E VIDENCE CH. 2 THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF E VIDENCE or from abstracts and notes or either, taken from such records in the preparation of and upkeep of its, or his, plant in the ordinary course of business, the same may, without further proof, be admitted as evidence for the purpose aforesaid. No proof of the loss of the original document or instrument shall be required other than the facts that the same is not known to the party desiring to prove its contents to be in existence; provided, nevertheless, that any party so desiring to use said evidence shall give reasonable notice in writing to all other parties to the action who have appeared therein, of his attention to use the same in the trial of said action, and shall give all such other parties a reasonable opportunity to inspect the same, and also the abstracts, memoranda or notes from which it was compiled, and to make copies thereof.